The year in review: hiring tournaments, co-working, and more 2017 was a big year for Crossover! We embarked on a worldwide hiring tour, increased our global talent network (now in 130 countries) by 70%, coordinated co-working options for our partners, and much more. To date, we estimate that about 7% of the global workforce has applied to our work-from-anywhere jobs, while businesses around the world hired Crossover teams of highly skilled professionals.

Focus more deeply and do your best work with the right digital toolbox Whether you work in an office, a shared co-working space, or at home, your time is one of your most valuable commodities — but also one of the easiest to misuse. According to one survey, 80% of us waste time at work. But the antidote to distraction is “deep work,” a phrase coined by author and Georgetown University professor Cal Newport. Newport calls deep work a rare and valuable skill: “the few who cultivate this skill, and then make it the core of their working life,” he says, “will thrive.” Because being constantly connected and interrupted has “fragmented most knowledge workers’ attention into slivers,” those who re-train their brains to work deeply will accomplish much more than their peers who can only struggle along in what Newport calls “distracted dashes.”

Businesses with big data initiatives see big benefits We’re drowning in data. Astronauts landed on the moon in 1969 using a tiny fraction of the data on personal computers today. The amount of data we’re producing and accessing is growing exponentially, projected to double every two years until 2020. At the corporate level, the vast majority of that digital information is falling through the cracks, taking valuable insights with it. Bain & Company reports that only 4% of companies make good use of data analytics — leveraging the right combination of people, tools, and data with the intent to drive improvements. Why is it smart to have a big data strategy? One workforce report analyzed seven years’ worth of research on business performance in the U.S. and sums it up this way:

Answering your questions about remote jobs and hiring with Crossover Since 2014, Crossover’s mission has been to reinvent the workplace through a flexible, global approach to work and staffing. We believe that the best talent is located all over the world and currently have a network of 2,500 team members in 130 countries. For job-seekers We connect top 1% talent from every corner of the globe with challenging, long-term remote jobs. We offer a wide range of technical roles (in software development and architecture, engineering management, quality assurance, and more), as well as positions in areas ranging from sales and finance to design and marketing. You can view our current openings here: http://bit.ly/crossover-jobs Once you join Crossover, you have the flexibility to work from anywhere or at one of our co-working sites with some of the most talented and motivated professionals in your area of expertise. Take it from some of our team members:

Expert gear recommendations from the Crossover community One of the best parts of working remotely is customizing your own workspace. Whether it’s a home office setup or a method for staying productive, you choose the tools, techniques, and atmosphere that will make you the most efficient, comfortable, and happy. Crossover’s community — more than 2,500 in 100+ countries — knows a thing or two about working remotely, from the digital nomad lifestyle to productive work routines. If they’re not taking advantage of one of Crossover’s dedicated co-working sites around the world, they may choose to work from a home office. So we asked our network of partners to share their favorite gear and tools. Here are some of their top tips and picks for working anytime, anywhere:

The remote worker’s checklist for a productive workspace Working from home is great — no commute, no cubicles, no noisy co-workers — but remote work has its own challenges. Family, pets, TV, chores, and other distractions are just a step away, but you can resist their pull with a few strategies for designing a home office that keeps you focused and productive. 1. Separate your workspace from your living space Even if you don’t have a separate room for an office, you can create some boundaries so your work time and downtime don’t bleed together. A dedicated workspace also helps create mental boundaries: if you designate a space to “go to work,” where only work happens and no other activities, it will help give your day some structure. Even if you only have a table or a corner of a room to spare, entering that space acts as a mental trigger that it’s time to focus.

Teams are the future of smart, results-driven hiring Forget the “unicorn” — hiring a superstar or two won’t magically make your goals happen. That’s the problem with traditional hiring: it’s too focused on individuals.

Crossover launches co-working options in select cities There’s no denying that remote work is great, but sometimes you just want a change of pace, or someone to bounce ideas off of face to face. Co-working offers the best of both worlds — conversation when you want it, quiet when you don’t, plus high-speed WiFi, snacks and drinks, and other perks. And now, all these benefits are free for Crossover partners! Starting this month, we’re rolling out co-working options in select cities in South America, Europe, and South Asia, with more locations coming soon.